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ID-FRONTIERS for August 1-10, 2002
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Subject: Sparrow ID???
From: William Hull <william.hull(AT)SDRC.COM>
Date: 2 Aug 2002 10:48am
[Apologies to any Ohio folks who also received this on a local mailing
list]
I was wondering if some of the folks on ID Frontiers would mind taking a
look at
two photographs on my website. To make things easy the direct links are
as follows.
http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic202-279-8.html
http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic202-279-16.html
As you can see from the second pic it was associating with an adult
Savannah Sparrow. I watched it for awhile while waiting for a friend to
show up and look at Sedge Wrens. Based upon my observations and research
at home I called it as a juvenile Savannah Sparrow. Notice from the
captions that this was July 14 of this summer. Now, a few days ago I
sent some pics to the birds-pix mailing list with the close-up shot of
the single bird above being one of them. Somebody questioned me as to
why it wasn't a Lincoln's Sparrow which they and another person clearly
think it is. Somebody else gave an explanation of why it was a juvenile
Savannah. Please let me know what you think either on the mailing list
or privately. I still believe that it is juvenile Savannah for a number
of reasons but would like some unbiased opinions.
Best Regards,
Bill Hull
Cincinnati, OH, USA
http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/ - World Bird Guide
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Egg color for Black-necked Stilts?
From: Don Gorney <dongorney(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 2 Aug 2002 12:17pm
In preparing an article about Indiana's first Black-necked Stilt
(Himantopus mexicanus) nesting record, the authors are seeking
information about the egg color for the species, especially the color
of freshly laid eggs.
A review of the major reference books (I could not check Bent as of
yet)reveals little information other than the eggs are typically some
shade of brown. The Birds of North America account (#449) indicates
that someone noted the initial base color for Hawaiian Stilt (H. m.
knudseni) eggs was a dull mint green, which faded to tan after 1 day
after laying. The Birds of North America reference is the only mention
I could find of eggs for the species (or at least one subspecies) being
a mint green when fresh laid.
As you probably already surmised, the recent Indiana record included
one egg that was decidedly mint green. Only two eggs were present at
the time of observation. The second egg appeared tan with a green
tinge. It is assumed that the eggs were both laid within the past 48
hours. It is quite possible that one of the eggs was laid within one
hour of photos being taken based on behavior of the bird at the nest.
A photo of the eggs can be found on my website at:
http://www.dongorney.com/bnst.htm
We are 100% positive the photo depicts the nest and eggs of a
Black-necked Stilt.
Is the mint green coloration expected for freshly laid eggs of the
nominate subspecies as it is for the Hawaiian Stilt subspecies?
Are there any references that describe the freshly laid egg color of
the nominate subspecies of Black-necked Stilt?
Any insight you can provide is welcome.
Don Gorney, Lee Sterrenburg, and Lee Casebere
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Sanderling or Baird's?
From: KACastelein and DJLauten <birdsong(AT)HARBORSIDE.COM>
Date: 4 Aug 2002 6:17am
Folks,
Take a look at this bird - what do you think?
Dave Lauten
Bandon, OR
birdsong(AT)harborside.com
Yesterday, I had a strange looking shorebird at the Prineville Sewer
Ponds. Because of the extensive white in the wing, I tentatively
Identified it as an adult male Sanderling coming out of breeding
plumage However, it was pointed out that the bill doesn't look right.
Could some of you shorebird officianados take a look at my pics and tell
me what you think? I would also like to hear about the likelyhood of
this species being inland in July. Thanks.
http://www.birdphotographique.com/20020801/index.htm
Chuck Gates
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: PA Sharp-tailed Sparrow ID Summary
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 4 Aug 2002 11:25pm
Hi all,
About a month ago, I asked for help to ID a Sharp-tailed Sparrow that was
found and photographed in November of 1996 at Lake Minsi in east-central
Pennsylvania. Back then, one of the photos was sent to the PA
Ornithological Records Committee (PORC) with the assessment that it was most
likely a Nelson's Sharp-tailed. PORC rejected the sighting since they
believed that Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed could not be ruled out by the photo
that they had. The record has been officially considered "Sharp-tailed
Sparrow species" ever since.
Here in PA, very small numbers of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows are found
annually in PA. They are most often seen on the grassy islands found in the
lower Susquehanna River, usually during the month of October. I know of
only two PA records of Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow; and, in fact, I
learned that there are very few inland records of Saltmarsh for the entire
East Coast! So, I was very interested to see if this bird could be
confidently ID'ed from the photographs. The five photos can be found at the
following addresses:
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-1.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-2.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-3.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-4.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-5.jpg
I received a total of nine responses:
Five birders were confident that the bird was a Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed;
One birder "leaned" toward Saltmarsh;
One birder ID'ed it as a 'coastal form' of a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow;
One birder ID'ed it as a 'typical' Nelson's; and
One birder believed it to be a 'subvirgatus' Nelson's or an intergrade.
____________________
My first response was from Jim Rising, author of the Sparrows guide, who
stated:
If those pictures were taken along the coast, I don't think that we would
hesitate to call the bird a Saltmarsh--and I am pretty confident that that
is what it is. The bill does look OK to me to be Saltmarsh, although a bit
small. Why don't you send the photos to Jon Greenlaw. He knows these
birds better than I---especially the coastal ones. I'd be really curious to
hear what he thinks, and what others think as well. There is one specimen
of a Saltmarsh from western PA, ID by Kenneth Parkes, in the Carnegie
Museum, I think. I don't know of any other inland records.
____________________
So, I wrote Jon Greenlaw who has extensively studied Saltmarsh
Sharp-taileds. Thankfully, he quickly responded and gave me permission to
forward his extremely informative response to the list. He stated:
There is little doubt that your bird is a bona fide Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed
Sparrow. It is indeed unusual for this species to appear inland away from
the coast. In this case, easternmost Pennsylvania near the New Jersey
border is not very far from the New Jersey/Delaware Bay coasts. Your photo
documentation of Saltmarsh STSP should be archived somewhere for future
reference.
All visible plumage and morphological (bill) characters in the photos fall
within range of variation of Saltmarsh STSP. The combination of strong
contrastiness between orange ochre malars & buffy breast, and strongly
developed, relatively discrete streaking across the breast & down sides &
flanks confirm ID. The dull (vs bright white) scapular streaks help to
discount 'n. nelsoni.' The bill length is on the short side, as Jim Rising
pointed out, but seems to fall within the range of variation found in
Saltmarsh STSP.
Remarks on other features that you mention: (1) Yes, nominate Nelson's STSP
can be boldly marked below, but it is distinguished by other features,
notably strongly patterned dorsum, little malar-breast contrast, & small
bill). (2) The head profile (rounded vs flattened) has been oversold as a
character. The position of crown feathers is subject to bird's motivational
state. There may be an "average" appearance, but that is not helpful for
critical ID's of individuals. (3) Throat whiteness is variable in both
species, most subspecies. There often is a wash of buffy on the throat of
Saltmarsh STs, but in other cases, throat can be quite white. (4) Contrast
between breast color and white abdomen is not useful; it depends much on
wear. The buffy color on the breast is bright in fresh-plumaged birds, but
very dull & pale in worn birds. Your bird is a fresh-plumaged bird, so you
should expect some contrast. (5) The dark markings around the eye is
individual variation; no species-specific significance. (6) Discreteness of
dark streaking on underparts also will depend to some extend on wear. In
fresh-plumaged STs, streaks in Saltmarsh STs typically appear blurred along
the edges; this is caused by some pale barb tips. Later, as feathers age &
barb tips disappear, the streaks "harden", or become more strongly discrete.
(7) Grayish sides of neck not species specific in Saltmarsh STs.
Jon (S. Greenlaw)
Archbold Biological Station
Venus, Florida
____________________
A response from a NY birder stated the following:
I think you're trying too hard. The date should eliminate juveniles, so
it's easier.
A Saltmarsh is a bold, sharply defined bright bird.
A western Nelson's is quite buff, if not orange,
The eastern Nelson's is soft and blurry.
That said, the streaking is quite bold and sharp; and while all three have
buff/orange to more or less extent, it is much less on the breast on
Saltmarsh. There are overlaps and I'm oversimplifying a somewhat difficult
problem. Most ID situations come from getting to see the bird, not from
knowing what to look for.
If this turns out to be a Nelson's, I'm going to have to re-think all the
record submissions that come to me, where we have Saltmarsh (breeding) and
both species migrating and wintering (a few).
____________________
A response from the Point Reyes Bird Observatory noted the following:
In looking at specimens I found that the distance between the longest
tertial and longest primary ("wing tip") was much shorter in Saltmarsh than
Nelson's, as would be expected based on the differing migratory strategies.
Your photo 1 (the only one that shows this well) shows a relatively short
wing tip, matching what I remember of Saltmarsh rather than Nelson's.
____________________
Obviously, I am putting the most weight on Jon Greenlaw's response since he
has probably studied Sharp-taileds more than everyone else collectively who
responded. That said, we will have to see if the record will be eventually
accepted as a Saltmarsh.
I want to thank all who responded or expressed interest. If anyone has any
additional questions or comments, please contact me and I'll do my best to
respond.
Thanks and Good birding,
Dave DeReamus
Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline'
Easton, PA
becard(AT)fast.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Sanderling or Baird's?
From: Dick Newell <dick.newell(AT)MACUNLIMITED.NET>
Date: 5 Aug 2002 12:00pm
Re: http://www.birdphotographique.com/20020801/index.htm
Chuck and Dave,
Your bird is an adult Sanderling,
Although it cannot be seen conclusively in your pictures, Sanderling has no
hind toe. The plumage is similar to a bird that I photographed 3 weeks ago
in Spitsbergen:
http://www.magikcircle.com/birds/image.asp?title_id=752
I didn't even manage to get the legs, let alone the absent hind toe!
Dick Newell
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Juv. Northern Parula W/O Wingbars
From: Noel Wamer <nwamer(AT)ATTBI.COM>
Date: 5 Aug 2002 1:02pm
During the past two days I have observed several times a juvenile Northern
Parula visiting the dripper pond that has absolutely no sign of the
white-tipped coverts that form the wing bars. I have looked at the bird
both through bins and scope as it bathed, so I am convinced that the
coverts totally lack white tips. The bird (a female?) is overall very drab
for a juvenile Northern Parula (i.e., gray throat reducing the yellow to a
breast patch and a dull greenish-gray back), but I do not recall ever
seeing one that lacked wing bars before.
I would be interested to know if others have observed a parula that lacked
wing bars.
Thanks for any responses.
Later...
Noel Wamer
Jacksonville, FL, US
Mosaics by Noel & Terry - http://home.attbi.com/~terrywest/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: regional dialects in bird songs
From: ian paulsen <ipaulsen(AT)KRL.ORG>
Date: 7 Aug 2002 2:08pm
HI ALL:
I was wondering if there has been any studies in changes in the regional
dialects of bird songs? I noticed about 10 years ago that the black-capped
chickadees sang a four parted song: fee-fee-for-her. This year I've
noticed a change to a three part song: fee- fee-for. has anyone heard of
this happening before?
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen(AT)krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"
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